Anza-Borrego Desert: Fish Creek North Fork End

Rating *****
Length 5.3 mile (return) - 3 Hour, 5 minutes (return trip). Moderate.
Elevation 740 - 1480 feet
Access A 4x4, with good ground clearance.

For the more adventurous hiker.

A the point "car" start hiking on the road, normally you will not encounter any cars.

At one point close to the Fall that is impassible, hike uphill and move over to the canyon on the west.

On your return at the fall, hike south up the canyon wall, follow the animal tracks.
You may find it a bit scary on top of the ridge, but you are real close to the flats.

On the flats, don't hike too far east, as it may be difficult to find a way back into the canyon.

A hiking stick is highly recommended on this hike, some parts are slippery.

How to get there:

From Ocotillo Wells take the split mountain road.
Turn right at the sign Fish Creek Campground.
The road should be close to the middle of the wash.

Follow the wash road, at the Wind Caves (signed) keep right in the wash and turn right into the Fish Creek North Fork (signed).

Disregard, the Oyster and Lycium "roads" to the right.

Point "Car" is close to the end of the "road" for a high clearance street SUV in a good year.
It takes about 40 Minutes, one way to drive up to that point. Yep it's a slow drive.
Expect sand and small rocks, close to the clearance of a SUV.

A most scenic drive, highly recommended, there isn't much that beats this canyon.

Warning:
The North Fork is at least one notch more difficult to drive than the South fork, a high clearance 4x4 is essential.
This wash road will challenge the clearance of a regular SUV, we drive a Subaru Forester and we come close to it's ground clearance at times.
Road conditions in the North Fork can change in a week.
Be prepared, we carry a couple of sand plates, to raise our ground clearance in case we get stuck and in this fork we had to use them a couple of times.
At days, even in "high" season, traffic may be low and you may be the only one travelling this fork for the day.

Load the hike in: GPX or KML (Google Earth file) Tip: use the right mouse key and select save.



Missing the film above or to watch full screen, use this link.Bighorn Sheep, Ovis canadensis (Dec/31/2013)
Bighorn Sheep, Ovis canadensis (Dec/31/2013) (Dec/31/2013)
Orcutt's Woody Aster, Xylorhiza orcuttii (Dec/31/2013) (Dec/31/2013)
(Dec/31/2013) (Dec/31/2013)
(Dec/31/2013)Peirson's Brown-eyed Evening Primrose, Camissonia claviformis ssp. peirsonii (Dec/31/2013)
California primrose, Camissonia californica (Dec/31/2013)Orcutt's Woody Aster, Xylorhiza orcuttii (Dec/31/2013)
(Dec/31/2013) (Dec/31/2013)
(Dec/31/2013) (Dec/31/2013)
(Dec/31/2013) (Dec/31/2013)
(Dec/31/2013) (Dec/31/2013)
(Dec/31/2013)Broom-Rape, Orobanche cooperi (Dec/31/2013)
Broom-Rape, Orobanche cooperi (Dec/31/2013)Trailing Windmills, Allionia incarnata var. villosa (Dec/31/2013)
Brittlebush, Encelia farinosa (Dec/31/2013) (Dec/31/2013)
(Dec/31/2013) (Dec/31/2013)
(Dec/31/2013)Desert Plantain, Plantago ovata (Dec/31/2013)
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Hiking the Borrego Springs Area (Anza-Borrego Desert SP, Cuyamaca Rancho SP, Imperial Sand Dunes (Algodones Dunes), Jacumba, Laguna Mountain, Warner Springs) California, Hike with gps, gpx and kml (Google Earth).
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